Machine for cutting veneer from logs



(No Model.) l 2r sheets-'sheet I.

F. L. WILSON.

MACHINE FOB. CUTTING VENBER PROM LOGS. No. 394,898. Patented Deo. 18,1888.

(No Model.) 2 `sheetsshee8 8.

P. L. WILSON.

MACHINE POR CUTTING VENEBR FROM LOGS. No. 894, 8. Patented D88. 18,1888.

Nrrnn rares PnrnNT OFFICE.

FITZIIAND L. IVILSQN, OF TEST BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

IVIACHIN FOR CUTTING VENEER FROM LOGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,898, dated December18, 18,88.

Application filed January l0, 1888. Serial No. 260,306. (N0 model.)

To LZZ whom z' may concern:

Be it known that I, FITZLAND L. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at West Bay City, in the county of Bay and State ot' Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forCutting Veneer from the Log; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting veneer or for slicingthin lumber from a log; and the objects of the invention are, first, toconstruct a machine which will be more rapid and ettective in itsoperation of cutting the veneer from the log; second, to provide aveneer-cutting machine that will operate to advantage upon logs of smallsize, and that will cut the log entirely into veneer and avoid leaving'a large portion at the last uncut to be lost as refuse; and a thirdobject of my invention is to construct and arrange a machine forcutting' veneer or thin lumber in such a manner that the cuttingoperation thereof upon the log shall be performed relative to the grainof the timber, that smoother and more even boards will be produced; anda fourth object of the invention is to provide a machine which willoperate to cut veneer or thin lumber from soft or porous timber withoutsteaming the log previous to the cutting operation, whereby the labor ofthe veneer-cutting operation is greatly reduced and a better and moredesirable article of commerce will be produced; and a fifth object is toprovide a knife having a high speed for cutting veneer or thin lumber,which operates to pass through and sever the fiber of the timber withg'reater ease and precisioin and reduces the liability ot' doubling anddrawing the fiber downward before the knifeedge.

A sixth object ofthe invention is to provide aveneer-cutting knit'ehaving a high-speed rotary motion with a reciprocating' motion, wherebya draw or shearing' cnt is produced when the knife is passing throughthe timber, which reduces the tendency of the knife to lead or draw withthe grain of the timber when passing through the log.

A seventh object is to arrange a verleercutting' machine having' knivesprovided With a rotary movement, and also with an intermittentto-and-fro movement in the direction of their length in such a mannerthat the equilibrium of the knife-bar will be changed during the cuttingoperation, so that the excess ot' weight is placed upon the knife makingthe cut and during the cutting operation, .whereby the said knives willbe held in position by the centrifugal action of t-he overbalancing endof the knife-bar during the intervals of inaction between the saidreciprocating' movements thereof.

The invention consists, chieliy, in a revolving' wheel or disk ofsuitable size, and provided with radial cutting-knives which operate toslice boards or thin lumber from the side of a log or cant properlypresented thereto, and in devices for producing a sliding orreciprocating movement of the radial knives while making a cut throughthe log, and also in the' combination and arrangement of the severaldevices and parts which enter into the construction of the machine, as Ihereinafter more fully describe and claim.

The devices which I employ to attain these objects are illustrated inthe accompanying' drawings, in which Figure l is a front side view inelevation of my improved machine, partly sectional. Fig. '3 is ahorizontal section ot' Fig. l, taken at a' tr. Fig. 3 is a section at yyy in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section at a" af in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is an endview ot` Fig. l, looking from the right. Fig. (3 is a rear view of thehub and central disk and a portion of the radial arms. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the knife-bar and slides detached. Fig. S is a'sideview of a vertical section ot the central portion of the wheel, taken atthe dotted line y y. Fig. 9 shows a portion of the yoke which joins theknife-bars, having a central vertical slot and the arm in positionwithin the said slot at the beginning of the end or reciprocatingvmovement of the knife-bar in one direction. Fig. l0 is the same readyfor movement in the op- IOO posite direction. Fig. 11 shows the log andknife and the position ot' the cutting-edge as .it passes through thelog.

o. represents the hub oi' a wheel, l), and c is a shaft upon which thehub a is mounted and secured, and d is a disk portion which surroundsthe hub an d extends outwardly toward the rim g, and Vis Inovided withthe flanges e upon its rear surface for strengthening and supporting theradial arms j, which are secured by bolts to the disk between the'langes,

and the outer ends are rigidly bolted to the Y halt' oi? the number olteeth contained in the rim (y.

71 and i are parallel arms extemfling from the hub (l to the rim g, andare secured in position in a similar manner to the armsf, but hav ing,however, the radial slots between the I arms.

f and 7,-. are knile-bars placed upon the surlaee ot' the bars /1, withtheir edges reaching to or partly over the slotsj between the arms, andwith their .inner ends connected to each other by the yoke I, which isprovided with an opening, m, through which passes the hub a and theshaft c, and the yoke is also provided with a slot, m', which extendsacross the central portion ot' the yoke upon one side ot' the opening m.

The outer edges ot' the bars k and 7,5 are each provided with a Vprojection extending the entire length of the arms and [itted into theVgrooved slides n, which are iirmly secured to the faces oli' the armsh, and the opposite edges oil the bars on the portions at the outer andalso the inner ends thereof are each provided with a V projection, o ando', which extend only a short distance t'rom the ends toward the centralportion of the arms and are litted into zuljustable V-groove l slides Pand l, which are secured Ato the outer portions ot' the arms i and tothe l'aee of the disk d, and arranged to be adjusted to take up anylooseness ot' the bar which may take place from wear or otherwise.

The iittin gs are herein shown and described as V slides and grooves,the., as being the most convenient and easily constri'leted and adjustedlor placing the knife-bar in proper alignment and to take up anylooseness thereof; but other forms of slides may be used :it moreconvenient, and I do not confine the construction ot' the slidesentirely to the particular form described.

'lo the front or face side ot' the bars k and 7;. are secured in asuitable manner the knives r] and q. These knives q and q extend [fromthe V projections o to the projections o', andv are arranged with theircutting-edges coincident with their 1t' ront surfaces, the bevel whichforms the Cutting-edge being from the rear side, or the side which liesupon the knit'ebar, and the edge ol' the knife-bar is also cut away toeonlorm to the contour ot" the bevel upon the rear side ot' the knives.

rl`he sha lt c is jouri'ialed into suitable boxes, s and s, on the frontand rear sides ot' the wheel, the l'ront box, s, being supported upon uis a lgear-wheel provided with teeth in its ]i)eriphery, which intvrmeshwith the teeth in the wheel u, and are ol' a number equal toonel'ieriphery ol the rigid wheel `1l. 'lhe wheel a is mounted upon ashalt, lf, which is passed through the slot `nl` in the yoke andsuitably journaled into the disk (I, while the opposite end ot' theshat't is journaled into and supported by a volve, u', which reachesabove and below the wheel a and yoke with .its ends turned inwardly andsecured to the disk (l.

fr is an arm, one end ot' which is provided with an opening and passedupon the shaft l', and is rigidly secured thereto in a position to bringthe arm within the slot m.

Suitable rotary motion is imparted to the shat't e and the wheel hbymeansot' the crank o' and a pitman, yr', the pitman being connected witha steam-engine eylimler, (o1-other suitable means may be employi-al l'orrovolving the shal't, it' desiredg) and a reprf'isents a logl to be eutinto veneer, and is properly supported and firmly secured (in anyconvenient manner) to the carriage h, and is presented with its side tothe laee otf the. wheel, and the size ol' the wheel is regula-ted to thelength ol.' the logs to be eutor operated upon, and the carriage isprovided with any proper feeding mechanism (not herein shown) whichmoves the log intermittently toward the Face ol. the wheel h and thecutters q q.

As the wheel l) is revolved, the gear-wheel a is carried bythe shaft "earound the stationary wheel u, and the number ot' teeth in the wheel nbeing one-hall" ot' the number oIi teeth in the wheel, n, tworevolutions ot' the wheel u are eliected while the wheel l; performs onerevolution, and the arm 1: being revolved by the wheel a', and operatingupon the slot nl, etlfects a movement ot' the bars 7u and 7;. and thecutter-knives outward and inward with each revolution ot' the wheel u',and the wheel n', making two revolutions while the wheel l) makes onerm'olutiou, causes each ot' the eutterwknives to be reeiproeated twiceduring one revolution ot' the wheel I.

The arm e is arranged relative tothe wheel u so that the knite enteringthe log will be moved in the (lireetion ot' its length toward the rimoi' the wheel d uringI the period it is making its out through the log,and the width ot the slot in. is regulated so that the arm fir will movefrom one side ot the slot to the other while the knife which has madethe last out passes the lower portion or quarter ot' TOO TIO

outward in the direction ol' its length while passing' the downwardportion of its revolution and while cutting' the log' the oppositeknife'is drawn inwardly while passing' the upward movement of itsrevolution, and the reciprocating' movement of the knives and barsceases during' the period the arm c is passing' from one side of theslot m to the opposite side thereof.

As shown in Fig'. il, the log' is arranged relative to the knives insuch a position that the knife passing' over the downward portion of itsrevolution first beg'ins the cutin thelog' at its inner end, so that thccutting-edge thereof will, when passing' through the Vvwood, liediagonally to the g'rain thereof, which, tog'ether with thereciprocatii1gmavement of the cutters, obtains a draw or shearing cui;as the knives pass through the log,whicl1g'reatly reduces the power andenergy necessary vt'or driving' thc knives through the log', and alsoreduces the strain upon the operating' parts of the machine, as theknife making' the cut first burics its heel or portion nearest the hubinto the wood, so that the energ'y of the impact of the wheel and barsis gradually expended upon the log' without perceptible shock or jar.rlhe knife-bar being' moved outwardly while the knives are passing'through the log', the end of the bar which then extends outward to thegreatest distance will vslightly overbalance the opposite end, and thecentrifugal force of the heavy end of the bar retains the bar inposition while the arm c passes from one side of the slot to the other,

and during' the period that the heavy end of the bar is passing' overthe lower quarter of its revolution, and during' which period the log'is moved by the feeding' devices toward the knives for presenting' a newcut thereto.

c are gage-pieces which are secured to the face of the wheel for thepurpose of preventing' any projecting' portion of thelog' from passing'between the spokes or radial arms of the wheel.

The knife-edge passing through the log' at an angle (as shown in Fig'.ll) with the grain or fiber ot' the timber, and also having' a sliding'movement lengthwise of the log' during' the cutting' operation, producesvery smooth and uniform lumber or veneer, and the operation of theknives is so rapid and accurate that a veneer ot' superior qualit-y isproduced at a cost g'rwitly less than by the old machines and methods,and by operating' the cutters at an ang'le with the `g'rain of thetimber the board or veneer is rolled away from the log' with the bendpartially across the tiberof the wood, which avoids the checking' andblistering' of the lumber which occurs when the cutting' is performedwith the knife-edge parallel with the lgrain. i

I have herein described as having the cutting-knives moving' outwardlyduring their cutting' operation; but l do not continermyinventionentirely to that movement, as an inward movement can be obtained by thesame mechanism by shifting the arm l", which will lt is also plainly 7oof the arm is not material, (it being' an ordi- 7 5 nary crankmovement,) so long` as the operation of the parts and the .rcsultproduced thereby are the same.

The g'roovcd g'uides P and l maybe vfirmly set u p to the knife-bars andthe bars held 8o thereby rigidly in position, first, however, placing'the knife-bars in position to balance each other and removing the armn', and then the wheel may be revolved without imparting' to the knivesa reciprocating' motion, which is 8 5 an advantage in cutting' manykinds of timber-as hard wood or timber' having' compact tiber and minutesap-cells, (be.

A great advantag'e is obtained by the use of the radial knives moving ata very hig'h 9o' speed through the timbeigas the grain of the timberdivided by devices moving' with velocity is much less liable to eat inor sliver, and this result more especially obtains with the cutting' ofthin veneer or timber, which is usu- 9 5 ally produced from log's whichhave a curled or knurled grain and present every condition unfavorableto the cutting' ot' smooth and even lumber.

'hatl claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a log-carriage and a wheel having' its sideface presented to the carriage and mounted upon a shaft having' a rotarymotion, of one or more radial bars secured by slides to the side faceot' the said wheel and carrying' one or more cutter-knives and capableot' a reciprocating' movement, and suitable devices for producing' thesaid reciprocating' movement, whereby the timber is cut shearing'ly,substantially as set forth.

In a machine for cutting veneer lfrom the log', the combination of awheel mounted upon a shaft having' a high-speed rotary motion with theradial bars /f and 7s', carrying' cutter-knives and secured to the faceof the wheel on opposite sides of the hub by g'roo ved slides, andhaving' their inner ends connected tog'eth er by a yoke and providedwith a recip rocatiug' motion, whereby the timber is cut shearing'ly,substantially as and for the purpose ("lescribed.

23. In a veneer-cutting machine, the combination, with a log-carriageand a wheel mounted upon a shaft having' a rotary motion, of the radialknife-bars carrying' cutter-knives and adjustably secured to the face ofthe said wheel, and having' their inner ends connected by a yoke andprovided with an intermittent to-and-t'ro movement in the direction oftheir length, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.c

4. In a veneer-cutting' machine, the combination, with a log-carriageand a wheel suit- TOO IIO

UiA

ably mountei'l upon a shali't and provided with a rotaryv nlotion, andhaving radial knife-bars 'earryi no' Cutter-kn ives a nd adj ustahlysecured to the Itat-e of the wheel on opposite sides of the huh, of' ayoke, as havingr its opposite ends joined tothe inner ends of thekni't'ehars and provided with a transverse slot, an arm, r', within thesaid transverse slot, a shal'i, r, passed through the said slot andearrlving;i the arm, and journaled to the said wheel lwiween its axisaudils periphenv', and having' a revolution around The axis oi the wheel ineonner'lion therewith and an independent revolution around its own axis,suhsl'aiitiallyY as and Y[for the purpose set rforth.

5. ln a veneer-eutting' maehine, the combi nation, with a log-earriageand a wheel, l), mounted upon a shaft having a rotary motion, andprovided with radial knife-hars earlvingl entier-knives and adjustahlvsecured to the lntion around its own axis, and also around the peripheryof the said wheel il., a gearwheel, u', mounted uponv the shaft r andengaging with the wheel u, and 4an arm, fu', mounted upon the shaftnwithin the slot m', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

(i. In a maehinelfor cutting,I veneer from the log, the combination,with the log-Carriage, 111e shalt r1, having a rotary motion, andawheel, l), mounted upon the shaft, the radial. hars /s and 1', earryinglcutter-knives and seeured on opposite sidesol' thehub and against thefave of the wheel by gromf'ed slides, the yoke coupling the inner endsof the hars together and provided with an opening, m, and a slot, f/u,ol'I a rigid gear-wheel, n, surrounding;- the said shaft the geawwheelu', engaging' with the gear-wheel u, a shaft, y1*,oarrying thegear-wheel u', and passed through the slot face ot the wheel on oppositesides ofthe huh i thereof', a yoke having' an opening for the said huhand connected by' its opposite ends tothe n1 and journaled into the disk(I, and the arin r', secured upon the said shaft u within the slot nl',substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence ol two witnesses.

FITZLAND L. 'WILSON Vitnesses:

J. THoiLxs XV. A. WRIGHT.

